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According to the Daily Mail, Maher raised the notion of Cruise's power within the Church of Scientology, which Remini left in 2013 after more 35 years as a member in a contentious departure, as she said that members are "self-brainwashing" in obeying the church's rigorous demands.

Maher said to Remini, Cruise "could end this single-handedly," to which Remini responded, "Yes, because he is single-handedly clearing the planet most Scientologists believe."

Maher wisecracked, "Clearing the planet? He couldn't even make Jack Reacher a hit!"

Remini told Maher her impression of his 2008 documentary Religulous - titled to blend the words religious and ridiculous. She recalled that she watched while she was still a member of the David Miscavige-led church.

"I watched it because I was a troublemaker, apparently, always, but I wasn't even at the level of what you were revealing in your documentary - so you seemed a little crazy to me."

Maher credited the actress, a close friend of Jennifer Lopez, for spreading unprecedented awareness about the church with her A&E series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, and her 2015 book Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology.

"When the history of Scientology is finally written it will show that fate chose you to come on in Act Five," he told the star. "You're like Reagan and 'Tear down that wall' ... you're doing God's work."

In her book, Remini said that she considered Cruise's ex-wife Nicole Kidman a "guardian angel" as she parted ways from the church four years ago, as the Oscar-winner braved the storm of leaving the church with grace.